Administrators and Quality of Care in Long-Term Care Facilities

This exploratory study investigated administrator and facility-related predictors of quality of care in long-term care facilities. Quality was measured using several unmet standards of care identified in the last inspection report of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (2007). Supplemental data were gathered from surveys mailed to all 602 long-term care administrators in Ontario, Canada, 302 of whom completed the questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to test sets of hypotheses linking characteristics of administrators and those of the long-term care facility to quality of care. Education and experience as an administrator in a participant's current position had a moderate positive influence on quality of care; however, negative associations were found between administrator salary and effort devoted to resident care problems and quality of care. In addition, smaller facilities, being located in less populated communities, and administrators with a nursing background significantly affected quality of care in a positive manner.